Microglia Elimination Increases Neural Circuit Connectivity and Activity in Adult Mouse Cortex

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2140-20.2020
• Publication Date: 2020-12-30T18:51:49Z
• Authors: Yong-Jun Liu; Elizabeth E. Span...; Bryan Tang; Todd C. Holmes; Kim N. Green; Xiangmin Xu
• Keywords: Biological neural network

Microglia have crucial roles in sculpting synapses and maintaining neural circuits during development. To test the hypothesis that microglia continue to regulate circuit connectivity adult brain, we investigated effects of chronic microglial depletion, via CSF1R inhibition, on synaptic visual cortex mice both sexes. We find absence dramatically increases excitatory inhibitory connections cortical neurons assessed with functional mapping experiments acutely prepared brain slices. depletion leads increased densities intensities perineuronal nets. Furthermore, vivo calcium imaging across large populations reveals enhanced activities parvalbumin-expressing interneurons following depletion. These changes recover repopulation. In summary, our new results demonstrate a prominent role neuronal regulating subsequent activity cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT are primary immune cell but recent evidence supports play an important However, it remains unknown whether how brain. Our present work shows induces robust nets, enhances local neurons. parvalbumin reveal potential avenues modulate plasticity by manipulation better treat disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.